Boost for Asamoah Gyan as Hulk stretchered off injured after Shanghai SIPG debut goal

Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan chances of playing for Chinese side Shanghai SIPG was handed a boost after Brazil striker Hulk suffered in injury in his debut over the weekend.

The Brazilian scored but was subsequently taken off injured during what proved to be a momentous Chinese Super League debut for AFC Champions League quarter-finalists Shanghai SIPG against Henan Jianye.

The striker, who earlier this month joined Shanghai from Zenit St Petersburg for a record Asian transfer fee of €55.8million, opened his account for Sven-Goran Eriksson's side after only nine minutes when he expertly converted a Wu Lei cross.

However, just 12 minutes later the 29-year-old went down clutching his left knee while attempting to control a high ball. He was subsequently replaced by Lu Wenjun.

Gyan was absent from the team's starting line up and the injury to Hulk will boost the chances of the Ghanaian playing for the side.

Despite losing Hulk's services, Shanghai went on to win the match 5-0 to go third in the Chinese Super League standings.

Shanghai are next in domestic action on Sunday when they face city rivals Shanghai Shenhua.

On the continental front, they will play Korea Republic's Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at home in the first leg of their AFC Champions League last eight tie on August 23, before the return fixture on September 13.